"Kenny Gibson is not an A-list celebrity" I was amused by Kenny Gibson"s reference to me as an 'obscure' Tory MSP: as if he is some sort of internationally renown A-list celebrity himself! His subsequent attempt to claim that the SNP hasn"t performed a disgraceful U-turn on police numbers was neither amusing nor convincing however.

The SNP"s election manifesto was clear: 'we will set out plans in our first Budget for Scotland for 1000 more police�we want to see these new police officers becoming part of the fabric of communities.' (SNP election manifesto p58).

No sooner had the SNP gained the keys to office than this so-called election 'promise' was unceremoniously dumped. Instead of '1000 more police,' ministers started talking of 'the equivalent of 1000 more police,' whatever that means. Indeed, when asked when police numbers would increase from 16,261 (the current figure) to 17,261, Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill answered: 'Er, um, er, um. I find that, actually, a rather silly question. The number will, you know, be whatever that will be. Whether the number will be 16,201 or 16,222, I don"t know.' (Politics Now, 27 Sept 2007) On 12 November the Justice Secretary issued a statement aimed at clearing up the mess, only to succeed in illustrating yet another broken election promise. The statement - which made absolutely no reference to increasing police numbers by 1000 - announced �54 million to assist police recruitment: fully �24 million less than the �78 million promised before the election. The SNP made two manifesto promises on police recruitment and has already broken them both.

Had the SNP honoured its manifesto commitments the North Ayrshire Division would have stood to gain 69 additional officers over the lifetime of this parliament. Unfortunately, as the SNP"s promises are not worth the paper they are written on, North Ayrshire will have to get used to the idea of doing without these extra feet on the beat. The police and the public have a right to feel betrayed.

The SNP promised more rank and file officers, but all it"s delivering is more rank hypocrisy.

Jackson Carlaw Conservative MSP for West of Scotland The Scottish Parliament Edinburgh EH99 1SP Tel: 07789 946 354